Tool size

[John Dowell]

Hi. I've just come to Affinity after years with Photoshop and I'm having problems finding the tools – they're all so small that I'm thinking I might have to buy a magnifying glass. Is there any way of resizing them please?

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @John Dowell
There is currently no way to change the size of the tool icons but the functionality to do so has been requested quite a few times.

[John Dowell]

OK, thanks – I'll just have to try to live with it.

[GarryP]

Quite a few people have asked to be able to make the icons (and other UI items) bigger so the developers are aware of the issue and it might be an option at some point in the future.
As 4K screens become more prevalent it may become a necessity sooner rather than later.

[Pšenda]

12 hours ago, John Dowell said:

I'll just have to try to live with it.

Try OS scaling.

 

 

[Laird James]

Looks like that's all we are going to get for $50  bucks, its a  pity because I prefer it to Photoshop

[WoodyT]

I'm currently evaluating Affinity Photo before purchase and the one thing that has really disappointed me is the tool icons size. They look ridiculously small on my 27" iMac's Retina display . The only way I have found to make the display acceptable is to change the display resolution from default to scaled, which can be done in System Preferences. A one step up seems to suit me although a two step increase will result in even larger icons.  My  iMac's OS is Big Sur. 

[Pšenda]

1 hour ago, WoodyT said:

The only way I have found to make the display acceptable is to change the display resolution from default to scaled, which can be done in System Preferences.

That is the right way. This way you will have at least all applications in the correct/readable size.

[John Dowell]

Sorry Psenda, but experience tells me you’re wrong. My workflow over the past 30+ years in graphics and printing has been something like 50% Quark Xpress and 40% Photoshop. I switched between them many times a day with no problem with the relative size of the tool icons. Both applications were "the correct/readable size".

Now that I’ve retired I can no longer justify the excessive monthly payments to Adobe for the pro bono work I do for a couple of local charities, and my photography hobby, hence moving to Affinity.

 

I’ve trialled several other photo editing programmes and Affinity has by far the best range of facilities 

 

I’ve tried what you suggest is "the right way" ie changing the screen resolution, but it makes Quark and other programmes impossible to work with because Quark's tool icons become enormous. And having to change the screen resolution as I swap between programmes is an unrealistic expectation. 

 

Furthermore, there’s a great empty gap below the tool icons on the left hand side of the screen, as demonstrated by the attached screen shot, that could easily be filled by larger icons and cause less damage to the eyesight of your older users!

[Pšenda]

3 hours ago, John Dowell said:

but it makes Quark and other programmes impossible to work with because Quark's tool icons become enormous.

Apparently I don't understand the logic of why Affinity/Serif (and any other application) should solve Quark display issues.

 

3 hours ago, John Dowell said:

And having to change the screen resolution as I swap between programmes is an unrealistic expectation. 

I would try local DPI switching for a specific application.

 

[John Dowell]

If the only programme you use is Affinity, then it’s no problem. But the real world isn’t like that. 

 

There isn't a display issue with Quark. Its tool icons are sized to work perfectly well with all the other programmes I use including Word, Acrobat, Excel, Mail, Firefox, iTunes, Realplayer, Powerpoint, to name just a few. I’ve been using some of them for over 30 years and as far as I’m concerned, they are the “correctly functioning applications!"

 

Affinity is the new kid on the block and if you don’t understand the logic of why you should scale your icons to match those of other programmes to make use of your programme and switching between applicatins easy, then there’s not much hope for you!

 

If there’s a way of “local DPI switching for a specific application” then I would be grateful if you would explain how to do it with Affinity, as that will obviously solve my problem.

[Pšenda]

1 hour ago, John Dowell said:

If there’s a way of “local DPI switching for a specific application” then I would be grateful if you would explain how to do it with Affinity, as that will obviously solve my problem.

It is stated in my link.

 

1 hour ago, John Dowell said:

work perfectly well with all the other programmes I use including Word, Acrobat, Excel, Mail, Firefox, iTunes, Realplayer, Powerpoint, to name just a few.

Interestingly, after setting up the scaling in the OS, "all" my applications, including Affinity, are displayed perfectly.